Automatically-disappearing storm curtain



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. L. E. ROSS AUTOMATICALLY DISPPEARING STORM4 CURTAIN Filed UaIOh 16, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 alto: u su Patented May 22, 1928.

OFFICE.

woran E. Ross, 0F MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE- arrasar-1Ceier-Paasmars@secan CUM-1N- Illiplication filed March 16, 11926. Serial No. 951,167.

rlfhis invention relates to storm curtains primarily adapted for' use on'autoniobiles.' v rlille,main object is to provide a novel'construction wlierein a' curtain oir curtains will tend to autom'atially'fold in accordion fashionto a position out of use. i 'A Another objecti'is tol provide a novel means whereby the curtains may be fastened in their operative or storm position by novel means and against the folding influence.

Still another ebject isto kprovide a construction vwhich may be readily applied. to existingvtypes of curtains, th'usfo'rming an attachment, whereby the same will automatically tend' to' fold, in accordion fashion andfass'ume'a position out of' sight. i

it is stili furtheraimed to provide a. novel construction of springbontrolled rods, links, and the'like toaccoinplish the end stated and which will be set forth in detailfhereinafterin vaccompanying drawings lillustrating onel operative embodiment.

Vlnthe .drawings'z f 'igure lmis a -view in substantially central longit dinalv section through an automobile, thelalttier/ kbeing 'shown fragmentarily and showing improvement inoperative po- Sxton;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of one lof the curtainsv looking from the inte-v rior of the aiutpm'obile, and in 'connection with fragments ofl the latter; i

'Figure/3 is a sectional view taken on line- Figure i'is a det-ail elevation of one side*v ofthe Vfoldingif -ineans for a curtain;

"Figure i'is an, end view of said folding meansnof Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view ofFigure 4'; and

Figure 7 is a sectional line 7-7 of Figure 4.

By way of example, an automobile has been shown conif'entionally7 at A. B designates the top cover or canopy thereof supportedlfor instance by upright bows C at the front find an inclined arc-shaped bow D at the rear, as well as intermediate bows as at E. The front and rear seats respectively are designated F and Gr. Any suitable nurnber of curtains 10. for instance three, as shown, may be used and be adapted for individual operation. As the vehicle shown is a. touring car, the number is preferably taken on' the line 6-6 view taken on the Links 31 are three. lThe bodyof each curtain may be of any desired material but usually is'made of rubberized fabric or other flexible material. Any' suitable number ofv glass, celluloid, or other lightsas at'll are providedfor each curtain.` 'i

i rlhe larrangement and illustration of the curtains inv Figure 1 applying to one side only, it might bev mentioned that the saine 1is duplicated on the other side of vthe ve iicle.v

Suitably fastened to the bows and D,

for instance', at each side of the vehicle, is a longitudinalbaton 12, preferably of wood and covered with cloth. The curtains 10 as at 13 are nailed, stapled or otherwise se-l y cured at their upper edges to the baton 12.

Each,l curtain is fastened inits operative po'- sition as shown in Figures 1 and 2 in any suitable manner as by lmeans of fastenings as Aatfl separably engaging studs 1'5"L on the vehicle body orfitsdoors.

Arranged' longitudinally of the curtains and rigidly attached thereto as by suitable keepers 27 secured to the curtains; are rods 28 having collars 29 rigidly4 and removably fastened thereto as by removable pins 30. Suitablelinks'31 are' employed which are arranged transversely ofy thecurtains, having eyelets 325 at each'end and being of 1a length for pivotal ydisposition on the two adjacent rods 28 as shown, and being secured against;v detachment Vas by cotter keys 33 passing through the rods 28. It willbe seen that the. upperinostrods or links 31r are outermost yandthat suchr links are disposed inwardly seriallyin a downwarddirection.

fastened in place by keepers 35 secured to the curtain. By this structure it will be understood that each curtain formed in a series of panels dened by the rods 28 and links 31 that are fold-able on one another by the instrumentalities hereinafter described in detail.

Coil springs 28 except the lowermost row, adjacent thelr outer ends, and have terminals 32 and 32a removably engaging openings or sockets 34 and 34a, respectivelyz provided in the collars 29 and adjacent links 31, respectively. Springs 38 are under tension and, when the curtains are unfastened or are free except with respect to the baton 12, will automatically fold to the dotted line poition shown.

38 surround all of the rods in Figure 3, due tothe tension of the springs 38. The curtains thus disappear or move to the dotted line or concealed position of Figure 3 under the top 2 and adjacent the sides thereof.

rlhe folding is in accordion fashion and in the folded position, `the fasteners 15 may engage studs 40, carried for instance by a baton 41, preferably covered with cloth and secured for instance to the bows D and E supporting the top B.

Attention is called to the fact that the inclined row of the links 31 as used with each back curtain does not interfere with the folding due to the fact that there is sufficient clearance at the joints of the links 31 with the rods 28. Also, suitable separable fastening means may be provided as at lll and45 between the front and rear curtain and the bows C and D.

In use, the curtains are normally in the folded or disappeared.y position suggested by the dotted lines in Figure 3, and securely held in that position not only by the springs 38 but also by the engagement of vfastenings 15 with the studs L10. In order to lower the curtains, the fasteningsc15 are disengaged from the studs 40 and the curtains moved to an upright or full line or unfolded position as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, being secured in such positions by the en* gagement of the fasteners 15 with suitable studs and also by the fastenings at L14 and 4.5. In order to fold or raise the curtains, it is merely necessary to detach the fastenings 15 from said studs and the fastenings ist and 45, whereupon the -springs 38, due to their tension, will automatically fold the curtains into the dotted line position of Figure 3, after which the fastenings 15 are preferably engaged with the studs 40.

Various changes may be resorted to pro of the invention.

I vided they fall Within the spirit and scope What is claimed is 1. In combination with a flexible curtain, rods longitudinally secured thereto in parallel relation, links secured transversely to the curtain and pivotally engaging said rods, said rods and links dividing the curtain into a plurality of panels, and spring means engaging said rods and links and urging folding movement of said panels in substantially accordion fashion.

2. In combination with a. iiexible curtain, rods longitudinally secured thereto in parallel relation, links secured transversely to the curtain and connected vto the rods at their ends, said rods and links dividing t-he curtain into a plurality of panels, oppositely disposed links having one of their ends secured to one of the rods and their other ends pivotally engaging an adjacent rod, and spring means engaging said rods and the pivoted ends of said links, said spring means on adjacent rods being oppositely tensioned to fold the panels on one another in substantially accordion fashion. i j y 3. A curtainof the class describedhav- Aing longitudinal rods secured thereto, colsaid rods, means removably and rigidly securing said collars to the rods, links on the curtain pivotally connected to the rods, tensioned springs surrounding the` rods inter-v mediate the collars and the links and said springs having terminals removably disposed infsaid collars and said links, said springs urging automatic folding move,- ment of the curtain. keepers on said curtain for said rods and links, a -baton to which the curtain is fastenedia second baton having studs,'means on the curtain adjacent,-

the lower edge thereof to secure-the same in operative position against the tension ofl said springs, and the last mentioned means being engageable with said studs in the folded position of the curtain. v

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LUCIEN E. ROSS.

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